Fast Lane: Mini unveils race livery, Lotus Emira Turbo SE and updated Nissan Qashqai in Singapore (2025)

Mini’s 24 Hours Race livery

Mini has unveiled the livery of its contender at the Nurburgring 24 Hours race in June, a 24-hour annual touring car and GT endurance racing event. The black-and-white racer is based on the Mini John Cooper Works 2-litre hot hatchback and will be campaigned by the Bulldog Racing team.

Featured prominently on the flank is the logo of lifestyle brand Deus Ex Machina. The team will also be dressed in the brand’s new collection at the race. Mini has hinted that there will be more to this partnership down the road. This may include co-branded merchandising.

The striking car will be competing in the SP-3T class, which Bulldog Racing won in 2024, also in a Mini John Cooper Works.

Lotus Emira Turbo SE now available

The Lotus Emira is now exclusively available in Singapore in the Turbo SE trim, replacing the 2-litre First Edition.

The Mercedes-AMG-supplied 2-litre turbocharged engine has been tuned to make 399hp, an upgrade of 39hp over the 2-litre First Edition. This brings the 0 to 100kmh time to four seconds, which is 0.4 seconds quicker than before.

The Turbo SE name is a reference to previous Lotus models like the Esprit from 1989, where SE referred to Special Equipment.

The Emira Turbo SE is priced at $548,800 before certificate of entitlement and options.

Updated Nissan Qashqai SUV lands

The facelifted Qashqai is now at the Nissan showroom. The large glossy black grille and tweaked headlight design make the car look more aggressive. The digital driver instrument display is said to be improved too.

Mechanically, the compact sport utility vehicle is mostly unchanged, with a 1.3-litre turbocharged, four-cylinder engine connected to a continuously variable transmission.

Power and torque output are identical to the version tested in 2022, but the claimed fuel consumption is poorer at 6.2 litres/100km, compared with 5.5 litres/100km for the pre-facelifted car.

Two variants are available. Other than having more comfort features and larger wheels than those found on the Premium, the Prestige also has a more sophisticated multi-link suspension rather than a torsion beam on the rear axle.

The Qashqai Premium costs $232,300 with COE before rebates, while the Prestige costs $10,000 more.

Bentley adds 671hp plug-in hybrid

The refresh of the Bentley Continental, Continental GTC and Flying Spur models continues with the introduction of the “high-performance hybrid” variant for the three cars. Instead of 760hp and 1,000Nm of torque, the V8, 4-litre, turbocharged plug-in hybrid is tuned to make 671hp and 930Nm.

This set-up is sufficient to propel the two-door Continental GT from 0 to 100kmh in 3.7 seconds – 0.5 seconds behind the Continental GT Speed, which features the 760hp set-up.

Expected to be available in Singapore in the last quarter of 2025, the lower output should translate to a $350,000 reduction in price, compared with the Speed.

Before COE and options, the Flying Spur Speed four-door saloon stands at $1.46 million, the two-door Continental GT Speed is priced at $1.54 million and the GTC Speed goes for $1.69 million.

Those unwilling to wait can check out the previous-generation GT and GTC in the Azure trim level that the Bentley dealer has in stock.

Mercedes unveils VIP shuttle

The Mercedes-Benz Vision V concept is an ultra-luxurious multi-purpose vehicle that was announced ahead of the Shanghai motor show that opened on April 23. Calling it “the vision of Mercedes-Benz vans”, the focus of the concept is on the interior, where the designers have tried to create a lounge-like ambience with a 65-inch retractable cinema screen, 42 loudspeakers and seven projectors in the headliner and floor.

Underpinning the luxurious concept car is Mercedes’ scalable electric vehicle architecture for its vans. Expect a range of vehicles, from basic people movers to VIP shuttles, to be based on this platform from 2026.

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